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Hello Sweetie! 25 Take Aways from Doctor Who

If you follow the facebook page then you know that I’ve been more than a little obsessed with Doctor Who lately. I tend to do that. Get obsessed with something and then turn around and get obsessed with something else. Thankfully I have AMAZING taste in obsessions.

Two months ago I was a Doctor Who virgin. Sad, I know. I wish I had the time to invest in all of the amazing science fiction and fantasy shows that are out there, but I don’t. I have my shows that I follow religiously and for the rest I embark on epic television show marathons. It actually works out pretty well for me. Everything stays nice and fresh in my multiple-franchise-fact-packed little brain and I don’t have to wait a whole agonizing week for the next episode to come out. It’s a pretty sweet deal if I do say so myself.

And I do.

Anyhooters. I got through Seasons 1-5 (aka Doctor’s 9, 10, and the first of Doctor 11) ridiculously fast. Seriously…that whole unpacking and organizing my new house thing took a major productivity dive. Then something horrific happened. Netflix wouldn’t give me any more episodes. I wasn’t (and still am not – stupid broken computer ) set up to BitTorrent them and I was really hoping to not have to buy them on Amazon Instant Video (just bought a house, remember?) I went through Doctor withdrawals. It was pathetic. But I started organizing my house again which I GUESS was a good thing. Pssh.

Then the season finale came and BBCA did a whole marathon of season 6. Thanks GODS! Then I had to go out of town. Gah! How did I ever live without a DVR? I have no idea. Since I got back I’ve been watching episodes between cleaning, organizing, wedding attending, yadda yadda yadda and I am FINALLY all caught up. Phew!

So here are my thoughts on the Doctor, his companions, his enemies and all the rest. Watch out, because as River Song would say…SPOILERS!

1. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that I will spend an entire day talking like a Dalek?

2. I brought this up on the facebook page but it warrants repeating:

Does anyone else think it’s weird that the daughter of the guy who played the 5th Doctor went on to play the daughter of the 10th Doctor and gave birth to the daughter of the guy who played the 10th Doctor?

3. Dear Doc #9…you’re cool in a goofy “wait, aren’t you supposed to be a villain?” kind of way. Your smile could light up the room and was really adorable. I feel for you because you got all of the cheesy special effects and that really sucked for you. Plus, you only got one season which was sad but kind of awesome because it made way for Doc #10. I feel bad for admitting that but it’s true. Still, you’re the one who dragged me in and solidified my Doctor Who addiction and for that, I will always be in your debt.

4. Wait, did I hear it right that the Doctor killed his entire race in order to defeat the Daleks?? That’s some fucked up shit right there.

5. OMFG enough with the creepy dolls. What is it with creepy dolls??? Ugh, I hate creepy dolls.

6. I’m not gonna lie, when we first met Donna I wasn’t a huge fan.

Donna with Doctor #10

When they ditched her in favor of Martha I thought, yup, right decision! Then they ditched Martha and brought back Donna and I thought, wtf? didn’t we establish that Donna was annoying?? Then I started to crazy love Donna and I was hoping she’d stick around for a while. When her storyline ended I cried. Not just because it had ended but because of the way it ended and how they made her go back to being annoying Donna. She had the worst fate of all the Companions and my heart still breaks for her.

7. Speaking of Martha…

Martha with Doctor #10

I love how the Producers had such a hard on for Freema Agyeman that they cast her as Martha RIGHT AFTER casting her as Adeola, the Torchwood minion who got all Cyberman’d in “Army of Ghosts.” Did they think we wouldn’t notice that it was the same chick? Not hardly. I can see why they did it though. Martha was fantastic. I felt bad for her that she was the rebound chick but that’s the price you pay for being a Companion, you’re going to get hurt somehow. At least she went all girl power and took off on her own and became a badass soldier. Now she’s a lawyer on Law and Order UK with Lee Adama. Girl gets around.

8. Badger’s back!! I heart you so much Mark Sheppard. I mean, is there a sci-fi show that you won’t do?? Please say no.

Frakking badass

9. Aside from being a better title than “The Doctor” I never really got why the show was called “Doctor Who.” I mean, sure, people ask “doctor who?” every once in a while, but not really enough to make it the title of the show. Now, thanks to a fat blue man with no body, I expect to find out the answer to that question and holy fucking crap I can’t wait!

10. Dear Doc #10…I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you. You had the best hair, the best clothes (sorry, Doc #11, but bow ties aren’t that cool), the best facial expressions. You speak volumes with nothing but a raised eyebrow. The whole daughter paradox thing creeps me out a little but I could get past that. I get it Rose, I totally get it. I would hit that too.

11. The thought of fish fingers and custard makes me want to barf. But that scene was fucking brilliant.

12. I’m confused….is Rory still plastic? Or did he get converted back to being human somewhere along the way and I just missed it?

13. I will never look at angel statues the same way again. Ever.

Ever.

Ok, fine. You can blink one eye at a time. Smart ass.

14. STFU! Jack is the Face of Boe?!?

15. “Vincent and the Doctor” is one of the greatest episodes of television I have ever seen. Not so much because of the giant invisible chicken, but because of the last 10 minutes. I don’t think it’s possible to watch it without shedding a few tears. Tragically beautiful.

She’s adorable in her bucked-tooth, cockney accented way but mostly I think it’s because of her chemistry with Doctor #10. I cried the ugly cry when he had to leave her in the alternate dimension. Sorry, Mickey, but you simply can’t replace the Doctor. When she started popping up in the background of season 4 I think I screamed a few times. I miss that combo.

18. Amy is a very close second.

Amy with Doctor #11

I like her spunky Scottish redhead attitude and her relationship with Rory is adorable. I was ridiculously happy when Amy chose Rory over the Doctor after that weird sort-of-but-sort-of-not love triangle thing they had going on there. If they had kept going in that direction it would have been seriously awkward when River started coming around more often. Rory should wear that Last Centurian costume, like, all the time. So cute.

19. Is it just me or is everyone reminded of The Gentlemen from Buffy the Vampire Slayer when they look at The Silents (aka The Silence)?

I swear, this is one of those situations where the DW writers know what the fuck is really going on and the rest of us are all oblivious. Seriously, how many of these fuckers have I killed in my life and I can’t even remember doing it??

20. Ok really? Giant green alien babies? Sorry Raxacoricofallapatorian’s, but you’re just not that scary. Although, I suppose you’re better than the Adipose….

21. Dear Doc #11…you’re cuter than #9 but not as cute as #10. But I dig your fluttering randomness…I keep debating with myself whether or not you’ve got multiple personality disorder. I’m still undecided. I like that you’re angier than your predecessors. You’ve got that whole “brooding tortured old soul” thing going on inside mixed with that “big goofy man-boy” exterior. It’s a good time for all. Ditch the Stetson but keep the Fez. Fez’s are cool. It’s weird how it looks so good on you. I wasn’t sure how you were going to get out of that whole death thing but I’m glad you did. And well done on the wife front. You’ve got good taste in women.

22. Emperor Palpatine + Nazgul = Headless Monks. Am I right??

23. I’m conflicted. Now I don’t know if I’d rather have a Starship or a TARDIS. I used to be so sure that I wanted a Starship but a TARDIS isn’t restricted by the speed of light or timelines or the need for warp coils. *sigh* I’m sorry Gene Roddenberry, but I think I need to go with the TARDIS. Now excuse me while I go hang my Trekkie head in shame.

Can't I just have both?

24. The two-episode story arc where all of the former companions come together to help defeat the Daleks (“The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End”) is probably my favorite part of the whole series. I love seeing the forces of good coming together to defeat evil and I was so happy to see Rose get her happy ending, even if it meant that Donna lost hers. The part at the end when the Doctor tells Donna’s family that she was the most important person in the whole universe and that generations of alien worlds will tell stories about her was so poignant. All of her dreams came true and she can never know about it. Ugh. Gutwrenching. And the look on the Doctor’s face when he gave Rose to his weird hand clone, knowing that he would never see her again but that she could be finally have peace with part of him. Ugh. Gutwrenching. The science fiction aspect is great but what separates Doctor Who from the rest of the sci-fi pack is the emotional wallop it deals you on a regular basis. I lost count of how many times this show has broken my heart.

25. And last but not least, my hero, the one and only River Song. How does one go about explaining all the of epic awesomeness that is the Doctor’s wife/murderer? Although…technically I guess she didn’t actually murder him…but you know what I mean. The woman gave up any possibility of ever regenerating again in order to save the Doctor after the first time she tried to kill him (again with the fabulous lipsticks!!) And she made the ultimate sacrifice to keep him alive from the Shadows. It’s not just her loyalty that makes her so endearing. It’s her spunk. And maybe her hair. The Doctor solves problems without violence whenever possible but he has no problem with letting River shoot people. Honestly, would he be able to talk her out of it? Probably not. God I love a woman with a gun. She’s just as clever, if not more so, than the Doctor. The only woman in the universe that can match him. The fact that their timelines are reversed just adds to the tragic beauty of their romance. They can never truly be together. All they have are stolen moments in time in which they never know how well they’ll know each other. It’s practically Shakesperean!

Comments

i couldnt agree more on so many levels. i LOVE rose and was so upset when she left the first time, but when i saw her in the background of season 4 i was like “OMFG!!!”. and the face of boe thing? hahah so classic. they totally need to explain someday though how the hell he goes from being an immortal time traveling bi sexual dude to a giant weird looking face in a big jar.

Heh. Not exactly on the topic of Dr Who but I’ve been watching ER with Alex Kingston (aka River Song) lately. Kinda interesting seeing her in a different role.

Not exactly sure about the Face of Boh thing. Seemed kinda like a throwaway line really.

Ummmmm… I’ll have to catch the rest of the series (series, not season–that is how the British roll ;P ) because I’m not exactly sure what all you are talking about for the latest series. Last episode I saw they revealed the secret of River Song’s folks but I missed a few along the way. Seems like I might have missed a movie or something somewhere too.

Loved your 25 comments about the series. What an amazing synopsis. Thank you for introducing me to the series as I totally loved it.
If I were to add to your comments, I would thank the brilliant writers who, for example, chose to change doctors and companions on a regular basis to keep it all so fresh. I was so bummed when Dr #9 left for Dr #10 but then I began to see the cleverness and wisdom of changes. I also credit the writers for making me feel that this was one sci-fi series that was like no other. Bravo oh genius writers.

Okay, I am on board with everything that was said. Although daughter of 5 is amazingly hot so the paradox be damned, ROCK ON 10!!!
I am a HUGE proponent of the Older Doctor series’s as well. Take the time everyone, go on Netflix since there are quite a few of the original episodes on there and the love for Who will grow. I would ultimately recommend 3, 5, and 8. Tom Baker is just a bit too weird for me.

Hi. I stumbled upon your blog while searching for images re: Tardis and Shaving (don’t ask). I would just like to express my desire that someone should develop a timeline series showing the approximate ages and meetings between The Doctor and River Song. I feel that would clear up a lot of deep, secret confusion that I’ve been harboring for quite some time. Terrific blog, by the way.